Springboks skipper and icon Siya Kolisi has been honoured by TIME Magazine as one of their 100 most influential people.
Siya Kolisi earns TIME Magazine recognition after making Springboks history
Siyamthanda Kolisi etched his name into the record books last year when he became only the second man to captain his country to back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs.
This is what he said in an Instagram caption to address this honour:
“Being named to the 2024 #TIME100 list is an incredible honour, one that deeply humbles me. It’s a profound responsibility to stand alongside individuals who dedicate their lives to enriching others. This recognition isn’t just for me; it reflects the numerous individuals and communities who have poured into me and shaped me to be the person I am and am becoming. I’m grateful to @time for highlighting the importance of compassion and service in our world. I look forward to getting my hands on the TIME100 issue when it’s released on Friday.”
KOLISI IS A PICTURE OF HUMILITY
There is an obvious steeliness and grit evident in Siya Kolisi’s approach to rugby matches. However, the most telling side to his personality is a gentle humility always on show at the end of bruising contests. His first action is to always speak about his opponent in glowing terms, an obvious indicator of his humility, leadership and willingness to take disappointment on the chin. The Springboks were nearly disappointed in 2023’s barnstorming quarter-final against France and then the excruciatingly tense semi-final against England. Margins are tiny in elite sports. Having a warrior like this guy on your team tilts the scales in your favour and that’s a privilege. It’s a competitive advantage.
SPRINGBOKS MAINSTAY
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Kolisi since his Bok debut in June 2013, the day before his 22nd birthday. He has faced criticism over his form, as all players do, and he’s lost his place in the side at various junctures. One constant, however, has been Kolisi’s parallel obsession with self-improvement and putting the team first. The Racing 92 flanker has won 83 caps for South Africa but it almost feels as though that number should be larger. It’s difficult to imagine the Springboks before Siyamthanda Kolisi and it will be pretty strange adjusting to life without him when he eventually retires.
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